The four Proficiency Statements of
Problem Solving, Understanding, Reasoning and Fluency represent what we knew in
VELS as Working Mathematically.This is
how the curriculum is explored and developed, as well as the ‘thinking’ and ‘doing’
of how mathematics is delivered. Without them, the level of proficiency within
the three Content Strands will not be as sophisticated.

In the ‘Framing Paper: Consultation
Report Mathematics 2009’, which helped shape the Australian Curriculum, references
are made to ‘working mathematically’ being reflected in the four proficiency
strands. This paper signposts the importance of the proficiency strands, as
they provide an explicit way of working and representing thinking in
mathematics.

There
are many research papers that support the need to have strong mathematical
understanding, fluency, problem solving and reasoning. They often attribute
students’ success in Mathematics to rigorous mathematical investigations that
lead to strong mathematical knowledge.